That trip to India that you have been dying to take, that side job you know will push your limits, or that coffee date with a loved one you haven’t seen in years. I hope you do things that frighten you, like kiss the person who makes your heart flutter, or send that risky text, or reach out to an old friend and repair a broken relationship. It is in these hard moments that you grow the most, that you strengthen your heart, that you learn who you are and who you wish to become. So I hope you decide to challenge yourself. You mind and your body are more powerful than you think.

I hope you say yes.

Say yes to that date, say yes to that slice of chocolate cheesecake, say yes to that girls’ weekend in Las Vegas or the boys’ softball tournament in the city. Say yes to that new project at work. Say yes to something you never thought you would. Say yes to something that’s probably going to end up terribly, but is still worth it for the experience and the lessons. Say yes because yes gives you opportunities. Say yes because saying yes is infinitely better than wondering what could have happened.

I hope you let go.

I hope you stop holding onto people that have hurt you, or negative memories. I hope you learn to forgive those who have wronged you and try to see the good side in every situation, even if it looks like there isn’t one. I hope you take a deep breath, then exhale all that isn’t building you, strengthening you, or helping you become something better. I hope you learn to heal. Because you deserve that.

I hope you go after what you want.

Life is too short to wonder what could have been, or to waste time chasing the wrong things. If it’s a job you want or a person you love, if it’s a future you’ve believed in or a dream you’ve been craving, go after it, fully and completely. I hope your life is filled with healthy selfish pursuits and confidence. I hope that you take steps forward where you were hesitant. From this moment on, I hope you stop holding back.

I hope you are fearless.

I hope you stop second-guessing and questioning your decisions. I hope you stop wondering ‘what if’ and playing it safe. I hope you always use your head, but I hope you follow your heart, too. I hope you stop overthinking and analyzing all the results and instead just go forward. I hope you learn that fear is holding you back from who you could be, and you don’t allow it to anymore.

I hope you smile.

I hope you stop hanging onto negativity or letting darkness cloud your skies. I hope you find reasons to be happy, big or small, and carry those with you wherever you go. I hope you stop worrying about things you can’t control or people you can’t change. I hope you speak words of kindness to yourself and to others. From this moment on, I hope you’re happier.

I hope you live louder.

I hope you laugh more. I hope you sing at the top of your lungs. I hope you drive with the windows down and let the wind rustle through your hair. I hope you hug. I hope you kiss. I hope you surround yourself with people who make you feel alive. I hope you become the type of person that brings good energy wherever you go, and the type of person people want to be around. I hope you speak what’s on your mind, that you raise your voice for injustice, that you tell others that you love them, instead of waiting until it’s too late. I hope you live louder, shine brighter. From this moment on.

Marisa Donnelly is a poet and author of the book, Somewhere on a Highway, available here.

You leave
because you have to,
because leaving is necessary,
because your survival
depends on letting your soul shift
in the wind like a grain of sand.

Become the person who is open and soft, not harsh and hidden. And watch how the world opens to you in return.

“This poetry collection gave out a lot of realizations. I just have to be brave. I need to have strong heart, and a wise mind. And just because things are a mess right now, doesn’t mean they will stay that way until the end.” — Muggleboooks

Find inspiration, motivation, or a laugh with quotes in every new tap.

“I love reading quotes from other writers, philosophers, opened minds, etc. I think everyone has a quote that has ignited something within them — a quote that has stirred their heart and inspired their creativity. A good quote can make me write for hours, I think that is why I find reading so integral when it comes to art. It opens up the worlds inside of you.” — Bianca Sparacino